Deer

ARTICLES ABOUT DEER BY DATE - PAGE 4

HOWELL, Mich. (AP) - A wayward deer made a trip to a Michigan church this week, causing $1,200 in damage when it crashed through a window. The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus reports the deer was spotted running near First Presbyterian Church in Howell on Monday before it broke the window. Church business manager Lei Maier says the deer tried to get out through another window before eventually taking off through the one it broke. Maier says she didn't know what happened to the deer after it left.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Officials say an insect-spread deer disease has been found in at least 29 Michigan counties and is to blame for the deaths of more than 10,400 deer in the state. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced new figures Monday on the illness. It's called epizootic hemorrhagic disease. The virus causes extensive internal bleeding and is transmitted by a type of biting fly called a midge. The disease isn't a threat to humans. The DNR says it expects that hunters will find more dead deer.

LANSING (AP) - A disease that began killing deer last summer has now wiped out more than 8,000 whitetails in Michigan. Officials believe the number is certain to climb as farmers harvest corn and discover more carcasses. Brian Bouwkamp, who hunts near Muskegon, tells The Detroit News ( http://bit.ly/PIgydX ) he can smell dead deer on his family's 60 acres. The disease is not a threat to humans. It is transmitted by a biting fly and causes internal bleeding, high fever, loss of appetite and weakness. The Department of Natural Resources says summer drought and high temperatures are contributing to the high number of cases.

MICHIGAN - The Department of Natural Resources recently released information about the latest impact to deer populations - a deadly disease that's becoming more widespread thanks to a mild winter. On Monday, the DNR announced that epizootic hemorrhagic disease has killed more than 4,000 deer across 24 counties in southern Lower Michigan this summer. A biting fly transmits the disease. DNR deer and elk program leader Brent Rudolph said Michigan's harsh winters typically kill off the fly and lessen the outbreaks.

This story has been updated and corrected. With bow season for white-tailed deer opening statewide Oct. 1, Angelia Cranney, owner of Archery Full Throttle in Harbor Springs, has some advice for hunters getting ready for the season. She recommends target practicing, if you haven't kept up year-round. Cranney recommends putting up your deer stand at least a month ahead of time to make sure deer are used to being around them. Hunters may bait from Oct. 1-Jan. 1. Check the strings, cables and cam on your compound bow, she said.

JOHANNESBURG - A hunter safety class is being offered Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 6-7, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day at Charlton Township Hall. Those interested in attending must register with Vic Ouellette by calling 731-1906 or 390-8695. The class is sponsored by Eagle 101.5, Jay's Sporting Goods and the Michigan Hunter Safety Instructor Association. Ouellette is considering teaching a ladies-only class this fall before rifle deer season. Anyone interested in attending should call him.

Gaylord City Police Sideswipe incident on West Main Street • Dakota Cherup, 21, Lewiston, was traveling westbound on West Main Street about 1,000 feet from Murner Road around 4 p.m. Aug. 21 when her 2000 Jeep Cherokee Sport was struck by a 1995 Saturn driven by Magdalina Lee, 65, Vanderbilt. According to reports, when Lee attempted to change lanes, her vehicle sideswiped Cherup's vehicle. Both vehicles sustained minor damage. No injuries were reported. No citations were issued.

HARBOR SPRINGS - The Tip of the Mitt branch of the Quality Deer Management Association hosted its final meeting regarding antler point restrictions recently in Harbor Springs and Petoskey. The two-day event included a leadership summit, comprised of association members from all over the state and a final meeting of the Tip of the Mitt branch. "We had 30 at the final meeting, which is pretty good, for 4 o'clock on a Saturday on an 80 degree day," said Jim Rummer, president of the Tip of the Mitt branch.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - A viral disease that is often fatal to deer has turned up in two Michigan counties. The state Department of Natural Resources said Tuesday that deer infected with epizootic hemorrhagic disease, or EHD, have been found in eastern Ionia and northern Branch counties. The disease has been confirmed in one deer in each county. DNR spokesman Ed Golder said other carcasses are being tested. EHD is transmitted by a biting fly. It causes extensive internal bleeding.